Beach roof Gas Strut length?

[owen_h]

After a bit of info from fellow Beach owners please.
I am trying to change the gas struts for the elevating roof, couple of reasons, I think they have lost a bit of pressure over the 10 years and also I have one of the excellent Kombi Rak roof bar system on there 95% of the time which adds some extra weight. Anyway I ordered some based on the part number 7HO 067 053 01S / 9573YK and asked the company to increase the pressure from 450 to 600N. All good until I fitted them and then tried to close the roof. It wouldn't fully close as the compressed struts bottom out.
Issue is that the gas cylinder part is longer on the replacement than the original VW ones so they dont fit in the gap available.
Could anyone else with a Beach measure the cylinder (wide gas filled part) for me please. I was measuring from the pivot pin to end of the cylinder where the shaft emerges. And If its not ~ 505mm do you have a different part number printed on the strut.
I will obviously need to get a strut that fits but curious if there is a difference out there as the company says they have sold many in the past without issue.
Many thanks,
Owen

 

[Tom&Gillie]

Did these replacements come from SGS? I’m having the same issue!

 

[Ch1pbutty]

You need two of these:

Gas spring VW Volkswagen T5/T6 California 600N | 896311

This gas spring (gas strut) is suitable for the tailgate or pop-up roof of the Volkswagen California T5 and T6 Camper.

www.hinscha.com

Thread 'How to make a Beach handle more load on the roof'
https://vwcaliforniaclub.com/threads/how-to-make-a-beach-handle-more-load-on-the-roof.43769/

 

[Tom&Gillie]

Thanks, I’m after a Uk supplier ideally as we are leaving on Thursday for a couple of weeks away

 

[Ch1pbutty]

Thanks, I’m after a Uk supplier ideally as we are leaving on Thursday for a couple of weeks away

Below are in the UK can make to any spec, just give them the measurements…although they probably know the physical dimensions of Cali struts, so would just need the N rating.

Gas Struts | Gas Springs & Gas Struts for Sale UK – Buy Online | SGS

Buy UK made gas struts with free end fixings, next day delivery and a 2 year warranty. We manufacture gas struts for Automotive, Domestic and Industrial use and a huge range of car boot and tailgate struts are available.

www.sgs-engineering.com

 

[alexjoblackburn]

Did these replacements come from SGS? I’m having the same issue!

Hi Tom&Gillie, did you ever come to a resolution with SGS? I have also fallen foul of this what I'd label miss-selling from them, given the product page clearly indicates compatibility with T4-T6 California pop tops and the part numbers match (other than what I believe to be a typo with 2 digits the wrong way around in the second part of the code).
I have contacted them regards to my grievance, and am having a back and forth about replacements which should be correctly sized, however they ignored my original query about returning the others so it would be great to know your experience before I press that topic with them.
Thanks.

 

[Tom&Gillie]

Just looked back through my emails and it looks like I got a full refund for the incorrect ones which were too long, they also refunded my return postage after some promting!

I also had struts on the same order for the tailgate, these also went back as they were to weak

Good luck!

 

[owen_h]

With me they replaced the struts with some with a shorter gas section. The 2nd pair came with a ~20mm extension nut to get the overall length correct.
Think the original overlength ones are still in the roof of the garage, they didn't want them returned.

(yes it was SGS to answer the question from 2023 which I must have missed)

 

[alexjoblackburn]

Thanks for the responses both. SGS have agreed to a refund (postage at my expense I assume) and if they are unused/ saleable condition; unfortunately I had fitted one before realising the discrepancy so will see how that works out. Good to hear from owen_h that the revised ones fitted.

 

[Tom&Gillie]

No problem

Were you going to source the alternative ones from SGS? I’ve been looking at the hinscha ones again mentioned at the top of this thread……

The SGS ones I have aren’t quite long enough so the roof canvas isn’t particularly taught.